Alarm-actuating apparatus



J. R. MEADOWCROFT.

ALARM ACTUATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1917. RENEWED OCT. I3, 1919.

1,338, 146. Patented p 27, 1920.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

John R Meadnwcro H.

lnvenrcn'. er Hl'F'or'na @QQAW .c

J. R. MEADOWCROFT.

ALARM ACTUATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17. 1917. RENEWED ocr. 13.1919.

1,338,146. Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED sTAtpEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. MEADOWCROFT, 0F MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

ALARM-ACTUATING APPARATUS.

Application filed September 17, 1917, Serial. No. 191,808.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN ROBERT-MEAD- owcRorr, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of the city of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarm-Actuating Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to apparatus forming a component part of automatic fire ex tinguishing systems, and more particularly the automatic alarm apparatus of the extinguisher systems for the interior of build ings and other structures liable to destruction by fire, the alarm being operated heretofore by the flow of the water not only upon the actual opening of the sprinkler system, but also 1n the event of the main water con;

trolling valve of the system being disturbed by water hammer or other causes producing a sufficient light momentary abnormal pres sure.

The object of my invention is to prevent disturbance of the main valve of the alarm by any other causes than actual opening of the sprinkler system.

To this end the invention consists of a particular relative arrangement of the main and auxiliary valves of the alarm, and the coaction therewith of an improved controlling mechanism of the retarding chamber, the effect of which latter is to retard the water between the main alarm valve and the circuit closers, and at the same time provide a quick discharge of the water from this retarding device in the event of momentary abnormal valve pressures occurring intermittently, owing to water hammer for instance.

More specifically summarizing the invention, I have an arrangement of cooperating alternating check valves adapted to normally provide an ample discharge for the accumulated water during the intermissions in a series of abnormal water pressures, and these valves admit to the retarding chamber the water releasei'l by the opening of the auxiliary valve. This auxiliary'valve is of speform essential to the proper double seating thereof, and is referred to hereafter as a flexible self-adjusting metal valve, the self-adjusting feature being inherent owing to the fact that, after being adjusted on one seat. it will. adjust itself'to a second seat even Specification of Letters Patent.

Renewed October 13, 1919. Serial No. 330,525.

though the seats may be out of the same plane or parallel planes, because of improper grinding for instance.

For full comprehension, however, of my invention reference must be had to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters indicate the same parts, and wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates my improved alarm apparatus in elevation'with parts in vertical sectional View Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional view of the valve;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view thereof taken on line 33 Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line 44 Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the throw-off arm of the auxiliary valve.

Although I illustrate the specific construction of the retarding device, I do not claim it per so as it forms the subject-matter of a separate application.

The alarm valve proper consists of a casing 2 having a main water inlet 3 controlled by a main valve 10, and an auxiliary water inlet or by-pass 12 controlled by an auxiliary valve 13. The main valve has a preponderance of pressure exerted on the side thereof away from the inlet 3 by means of an annular duct 14' in its seat and having a port 15. This main valve is, by this means, made a differential valve owing to the fact that the diameter of inlet 3 is less than the effective opposite pressure area. These dif' forential areas are represented by the diameter of port 3 on one side and on the opposite side the corresponding opposite diameter supplemented by the annular duct 14. An important feature of my invention is that I provide for the positive supply of the first or the first few sprinkler heads opened, through the bypass, the auxiliary valve, according to my invention, having imparted to it a tendency to remain open as long as water flows through it.

The auxiliary valve coacts with thismainvalve and as will be presentlyfshown, the main valve absolutely prevents the auxiliary valve from closing while the main valve is open, and in the event of the remote contingency of the auxiliary valve lagging, it will inevitably be disturbed from its seat upon the slightest movement of the main valve, thus insuring the effectiveness of both alarm ports, when an alarm is required.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

Referring more specifically to these valves: The main valve has a central hub or boss 16 with a diminished and screwthreaded upper end to receive a retaining nut 17 which prevents complete separation of the valve from a lever 1.8 fulcrumed on pin 19 journaled in seats 20 within the valvecasing. A throw-off arm 21 for carrying the auxiliary valve is located in the path of the main. valve the lever 18 being forked to straddle the butt of this throw-off arm. This arm 21 is of triangular cross-section as shown in Big. 5 and the butt is provided with an inclined shoulder 22 conforming to and lying in close proximity with an in-.

clined face oflever 18, this inclined face be,- ing presented by a portion 23 of the lever bent at an angle to the length thereof.

This throw-oii' arm has a stop which comes in contact with the fixed stop 31 when it is thrown. over as will be presently shown. This fixed stop 31 is cast on the inside of a cap of the casing. The throwolf arm carries the auxiliary valve of which I will. give a full detail description as it is extremely essential to the proper working of the apparatus. In order to obtain a proper degree of accu icy in th seating of the valves and the necessary sensitiveness to insure the positive unseating of the auxiliary valve at the sli htest increase of water pressure, the outlet of the by- Jass or auxiliary inlet 12 is substantialq; vertically disposed, and above the edge of the main valve the diametrically opposite side from the fulcrum pin 19. This outlet has bushing which serves as a seat for the auxiliary valve. The by-pass has a short pipe 25 with the edge at one end beveled at 26 and its opposite end formed with a shoulder 27 and screwed into a seat 28 in the wall of the bypass, such wall being thickened for the purpose and having a duct 29 the outer end of which is connected to a pipe sys' which the (hi i5 is also co in Fig. l. and the system is con" the retarding chamber and the alarm s ing or indicating apparatus.

My fl xible self-adjusting metal consists of a circular valve body 13 ha a central circular boss 90 at a rim screw-threaded to receive a flanged collar which clamps the diaphi m 93 over a concavity ea communicanl g .-..1 oh an axial h ole 95; the head of this valve being of reduced diameter and screw-threzuled to receive a nut 96. The portion of the body be tween the circular boss 90 and rim 91. has a hexagonal exterior 97 to fa i tate the clamping of the diaphragm in p This valve is connected to the out of the throw-ofi arm by the circular boss being seated in a circn hole in the id 98 of the arm which bot. lie no ..i parallel. with the face of the bushing 24, this bush-- ing serving as a seat for this valve. It is important to so construct and assemble the bypass 12, pipe 25, bushing 24-, the bent end 98 of the throw-off arm and the auxiliary valve, that when the clamping ring 92, which is in effect the rim of the valve is seated on bushing 24L, the diaphragm 93 will be slightly spaced from the mouth of the pipe 25, the diaphragm being normally caused to close the mouth of this pipe by the pressure of the water on the upper side of the auxiliary valve acting through the hole 95. This particular construction and arrangement of parts constitutes this valve a flexible self-adjusting one; and owing to the flexibility of the diaphragm 93 .anqaccurate' The alarm-retarding apparatus proper consists of a retarding chamber and an accumulating chamber 51, a single casting preferably embodying the accumulating chamber and approximately half of the retarding chamber. The other half of the latter consists of a casting composed of a member 52 of the wall of the casing having an oblique partition 53 inclosing a chamber sub-divided by a wall 54 into inlet and outlet sub-chambers 55 and 56, respectively. The inlet chamber 55 has the piping system 4.0 connected thereto by a tail-piece clamped in place by a coupling 61 serving as a retaining means for a strainer 62, the discharge from this chamber being of diminutive capacity presented by a bushing or plug 63 screwed into a tapped hole 64 in partition 53 and 7 having an opening 66 therethrough of small bore; the strainer b ing for the purpose of preventing sediment in the water of the system from blocking thisport 66. The outer side of this plug or bushing relatively to the inlet chamber 55 has an annular shoulderencircling the port 66 and has a narrow top to facilitate the seating of one of the alternating valves. The outlet from chamber 50 to the subchamber 56 is through a relatively large port 68, and a correspondingly large port 69 acts as a discharge from this sub-chamber 56. The partition 53 between ports 66 and 68 has a post 70 upon which a lever is fulcrumed between its ends as at 71 such ends being of different lengths, the short end extending over port 68 and carrying a valve 72 and the long arm extending over port 66 and being countenweighted as at 73 and carrying a valve 74.

This casting is detachably fastened in place upon the main casting by bolts 7 5 and nuts 76.

The accumulating chamber is preferably located above the retarding chamber and communication is effected between them through casting screwed into an opening 81 in an upwardly concaved partition 82 chamber.

separating this chamber from the retarding This casting has a relatively small central port 88 and a series of fingers 84 supporting a downwardly concaved baffle-plate 85 the purpose of which is to check the water flowing from the accumulating chamber and prevent it from being projected from port 83 through the outlet port 86 in the top of the accumulating chamber.

Operation.

In the operation of apparatus of this type, the sole aim is to give alarm when fire occurs in a building protected by a fire-extinguishing system of the type to which this invention relates. These alarms are given when the sprinkler system, or any portion of it is set in operation, and it is most desirable that no alarm be given unlesswhich event the auxiliary valve will first be thrown open, and stay open, and if a sufli cient number of the sprinkler heads are opened, the main valve will be thrown open also. It is also important to make it inevitable that the alarm shall be given when there is really cause for it. In thefoperation of my improved apparatus this important result is obtained. asfollows: ith one or more sprinkler heads open the auxiliary valve 13 is thrown open and when a sufficient number of heads have opened to ex coed the supply from the bypass then the main valve will also be thrown open. A clear and unobstructed passage for the "atcr from both by-pass and main conductor 3 will be presented by the fact that the main valve has been thrown to one side and the auxiliary valve with it as shown in dotted lines Fig. 2. Simultaneously the water will flow tl'irough the bypass 12 and port 15, through piping 4:0 to chamber 55, through port raising valve 7% and closing valve 72, flood chambers and reach port 86., and actuate the alarm.

Should water hammer occur the successive impulses will openthe more sensitive auxiliary or alarm valve and practically instantane-siiusly equalize the pressure on the er side of the main valve, the dillerennature of which i-auses it to remain These comparatively small spurts tn seated.

of water will be conducted from the bypass 12 to sub-chamber 55 and each impulse through this medium will intermittently lift valve 74L from its seat and the water will enter chamber 50, but during the intermission between the impulses the counterweight 7 3 will shut valve 74 and lift valve 72 thus opening the relatively large port 68, and however rapid the impulses may be the relatively greater capacity of the port 68 as compared with inlet 66 will drain off the intermittently inflowing water and prevent suflicient accumulation thereof to reach the outlet port 86. In this manner the op-- eration of the alarm apparatus is prevented when no cause exists for an alarm.

What I claim is as follows:

1. I11 an automatic fire alarm system the combination with a water passage having a bypass; of a main valve for controlling the water passage; an auxiliary valve for controlling the bypass and constructed and arranged to open independently of the main valve; the passage and bypass being adapted to receive water from the same supply under pressure, means whereby the main valve, when operating a predetermined extent automatically retains the auxiliary valve in its open position and means whereby the flow of water through the bypass operates the alarm.

2. In an automatic fire alarm system the combination with a water passage having a bypass; of a main valve for controlling the water passage; an auxiliary valve for controlling the bypass and constructed and arranged to open independently of the main valve; the passage and bypass being adapted to receive water from the same supply under pressure, means whereby the main valve, when operating a predetermined extent, antomatically retains the auxiliary valve in its open position, such means consisting of a carrier for the auxiliary valve within the path of the main valve to be engaged and retained when both valves are open; and

means whereby the flow of water through the bypass operates the alarm.

3. In an automatic fire alarm system the combination with a water passage, of a main valve for controlling the same; a supplemental water passage; an auxiliary valve for controlling the supplemental passage, both passages being adapted to receive water from the same supply under pressure, a lever carrying the main valve and fulcrumed at one side thereof and an arm pivoted at one end and extending across the main valve and carrying the auxiliary valve at its free end, and means whereby the flow of water through the supplemental passage operates the alarm.

4:. In an automatic fire alarm system the combination with a water passage, of a main valve for controlling the same; a supplemental water passage; an auxiliary valve for controlling the supplemental passage, both passages being adapted to receive water from the same supply under pressure, means whereby the main valve when open to a predetermined extent retains the auxiliary valve in its open position, such means consisting of a lever carrying the main valve and fulcrumed at one side thereof and an arm pivoted at one end and extending across the main valve and carrying the auxiliary valve at its free end, the connection between the main valve and its lever consisting of a central hub or boss located within an opening in the free end of the lever and rotatably secured therein; and means whereby the flow of water through the supplemental passage operates the alarm.

5. In an automatic fire alarm system the combination with a water passage, of a main valve for controlling the same; a supplemental water passage; an auxiliary valve f or controlling the supplemental passage, both passages being adapted to receive water from the same supply under pressure, means whereby the main valve when open to a predetermined extent retains the auxiliary valve in its open position, such means consisting of a lever carrying the main valve and fulcrumed at one side thereof and an arm pivoted one end and extending across the main valve and carrying the auxiliary valve at its free end, the free end of the arm being disposed at an angle and lying normally parallel to the seat of the said auxiliary valve and the valve having a central boss located within an opening in the angular end of the arm and means rotatably fastening the same in place, and means whereby the flow of water through the supplemental passage operates the alarm;

6. In an automatic fire alarm system the combination with a water passage, of a main valve for controlling the same; a supplemental water passage; an auxiliary valve for controlling the supplemental passage, both passages being adapted to receive water from the same supply under pressure, means whereby the main valve when open to a predetermined extent retains the auxiliary valve in its open position, such means consisting of a lever carrying the main valve and fulcrumed at one side, thereof and an arm pivoted at one end and extending across the main valve and carrying the auxiliary valve at its free end, the connection between the main valve and its lever consisting a central hub or boss located within an opening in the free end of the lever and rotatably secured therein, the free end of the arm being disposed at an angle and lying normally parallel to the seat of the said auxiliary valve and the valve having a central boss located within an opening in the angular end of the arm and means fastening the same in place, and means whereby 7 fn an automatic the alarm system the a combination with a water passage, of a main valve for controlling the same; a supplementary water passage, an auxiliary valve for controlling the supplemental passage, both passages being adapted to receive water from the same supply under pressure, the said supplemental passage containing a duct for conducting water to the alarm and the plane of the mouth of the said duct sub stantially coinciding with the plane of the auxiliary valve seat, the said'auxiliary valve consisting of a valvular body carrying a metal diaphragm and having a. pressure equalizing port communicating with the inner side of the diaphragm, and means whereby the flow of water through the supplementary passage operates the alarm.

8. In an automatic fire alarm system the combination with a water passage, of a main valve for controlling the same; a supplementary water passage, an auxiliary valve for controlling the supplemental passage, both passages being adapted to receive water from the same supply under pressure, the said supplemental passage containing a duct for conducting water to the alarm and the plane of the mouth of the said duct substan-. tially coinciding with the plane of the auxiliary valve seat, the said auxiliary valve consisting of a valvular body carrying a metal diaphragm and having a concavity at the inner side of the diaphragm and a pressure equalizer port communicating with theconcavity, and means whereby the'flow of water through the supplementary passage operates the alarm. l I

9. In an automatic fire alarm system the combination with a water passage, of a main valve for controlling the same; a supplemental water passage; an auxiliary valve for controlling the supplemental passage, both passages being adapted to receive water from the same supply under pressure, the said'supplemental passage containing a duct for conducting water to the alarm apparatus and the plane of the mouth of the said duct substantially coinciding with the plane of the auxiliary valve seat, the said auxiliary valve consisting of a valvular body carrying a metal diaphragm and having a pressure equalizer port communicating with the inner sideof the diaphragm, and means whereby the flow of water through the supplementary passage operates the alarm.

10. In an automatic fire alarm system the combination with a water passage, of a main valve for controlling the same; a supplemental water passage; an auxiliary valve for controlling the supplemental passage, both passages being adapted to receive water from the same supply under pressure, the said supplemental passage containing a duct for conducting Water to the alarm apby the flow of Water through the supple- 10 paratus and the plane of the mouth of the mentary passage operates the alarm.

said duct substantially coinciding with the In testimony whereof I have signed my plane of the auxiliary valve seat, the said name to this specification in the presence of auxiliary valve consisting of a valvular body two Witnesses.

carrying a metal diaphragm and having a JOHN R. MEADOlNC ROFT. concavity at the inner side of the diaphragm WVitnesses: and a pressure equalizing port comniuni- GORDON G. CooKn,

eating With the concavity, and means where- WILLIAM J. C. HEwETsoN. 

